Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-30

cooking, too is sight worth seeing. Along
fire of logs was burning in the open air, and
on each side of this pieces of plank about a
big as a washboard, and two inches thick,
| were placed at an angle of about forty-fve
degrees, being propped up by sticks placed
| behind them. These planks were of hickory,
freshly sawed and scrupulously clean. To
the front of each plank was nailed with iron
nails three or four big, fat fish, each Of which
had been cleaned and spread out upon the
board with the skin of the fish down. The
| heat of the fire was very great and the hick-
| Org planks absorbed it. The shad was thus
| cooked from both Sides and it had the flavor
| of the fresh wood, which, added to that of
| the open air, made it delicious
re-
| had a chat with J. Q. A. Ward while he
was here attending the unwilling of his statue
| of Garfield. The sculptor is a straight well
built, business like looking man of 80, with
| light, sandy hair, and full, short, reddish
beard, into which the silver threads are fast
| creeping. He talks in a business like man
ner, wears eye glasses, and has nothing of the
| Bohemian about him. He is one of the sue
cessful American sculptors of to-day. Born
in Ohio he early turned his attention to art
and he was already a sculptor when Garfield
| was a member Of the state senate of Ohio.
He told me Of a curious incident in connec-
| ton with his first meeting of Garfield 1t
occurred in Governor Dennison's office.
Ward was talking to the governor when a
blonde young man with Saxon features en-
tered, and Governor Dennison introduced
him to Ward as Senator Garfield. In DENIM
sons happy way he said:
MIR. Garfield, you are a rising young
statesman and Ward is rising young sculp-
tor. I tr ool,1
be that when you. Garfield, have won your
laurels and become famous, you may call
upon Ward, who will by this time have made
his reputation, to embody you in marble or
in bronze"
The years passed on. Both went their
ways and both turned out as Dennison pre-
dlcted Garfield became president of the
United States and Ward makes his most
noted statue. IS.
Mr.. Ward knew Garfield somewhat in after
years, and he tells me that Garfield had an
extraordinary knowledge and appreciation OF
art. He described a conversation which he
had held with Garfield during the celebra
ton OF the unwilling of Wards statue OF
ten. Thomas. In this conversation Garfield
thoroughly appreciated the symbolic in art.
ana said he thought it an impossibiiity to
make really great statue of a man with
the base of Wards statue are symbolic and
in the faces of the student, the soldier and
the statesman there has been no ATTEMPT to
reproduce Garfield. They merely stand for
the phases or his life and character which
they represent. They are wonderful crea-
lions, and they will long form the chief feat
ures OF the statuary art Of the capital city.
~.
asked Ward for the story of this statue.
He replied: ~ was given the commission for
It in 1880 at Cincinnati. Gen. Corbin called
upon me, and told me that the Army of the
Cumberland had collected $50, 900 for a statue
or GARFIELD, and they wanted me to take the
commission for it. replied that the amount
was TOO much for all ordinary statue and
that would like to take some time to think
ABOUT IL. did think about it, and the result
was the present statue. II was much mora
Elaborate than that which Gen. Corbin and
the committee had expected, and found that
It would cost about 100000. 1 called mon
jhem and told them that if they would add
10000 to the $4,000 already raised I could
make 1t. They were pleased with the idea,
iheV at once raised the money, and accepted
it, The statue was cast in New York.
Can our bronze foundries do as good work
as those of Europe?"
Every bit as good America is rapidlv
growing in artistic taste and artistic work
manship, and the Americans have wonder
fu! power of adaptability. We bring foreign
hands into our art manufactures, and the |
Americans learn very rapidly from them.n
Are you satisfied with the growth of art |
taste in America?"
Yes, 1t is wonderful. 1t SURPRISES all the |
prophecies. When 1 came to New York
years ago, at the meetings of our art clubs. |
N. +. Willis, William Cullen Bryant and |
others used TO prophecy great art develop |
inent IN the United States. We thought |
them rather visionary then, but the reality |
surpasses their statements. All over the |
country this growth of art taste is going on.
The Centennial helped it, 1t is being fostered
by the numbers of tourists who visit Europe |
every year, and by the wealthy men who |
bring back works of art with them. Ameri- |
cans have, think, great latent art tastes, |
These develop rapidly upon cultivation and |
our average citizen soon gains a very fair
artistic judgment"
"How about the products of American
artw
we are doing some very good work in & |
number of different directions. Bohemian |
ISM is fast leaving the profession, and there is |
more money in art now than in the past. No |
artist makes fortune, but many make good
hVlhgs. Inc branches OF art work are widen
ing, and there is an increased demand TO,
skin in our potteries, in our bronze foundries.
in the designing of papers and the other things
which go to make the house beautiful. Those
who cannot make great success in the
higher branches Of art find an opening here.
do you think America will ever have a |
distinctive national art?"
"Yes; have no doubt of it, If I Thought
we would not would not care to continue
my work six months. We are vet in orr in
fancy, but we are growing very fast The
American character is an original one, and il
is full Of inventions. The patent Office shows
this AS we grow Weather and get out of
our hard working bread and butter ways orr
tastes will become more highly cultivated
and after we have served an apprenticeship
IN the art schools of the world we will de.
velop something Of nat ional character
nope some time to see a national academy Of
art at Washington, and it may he that the
National museum is the foundation of this
Or the Corcoran art gallery might be devel-
oped by the aid Of congress into something of
his kind" FRANK G.. CARprNTr9
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